{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2023}} {{Short description|Beauty pageant in Zimbabwe}} {{for|the most recent edition|Miss Grand Zimbabwe 2013}} {{Infobox organization | name = Miss Grand Zimbabwe | image = Miss Grand Zimbabwe Logo.png | image_size = | caption = | formation = {{Start date and age|2013|07|13}} | founder = | type = [[Beauty pageant]] | headquarters = [[Durban]] | location = [[South Africa]] | leader_title = National directors | leader_name = {{hlist|Ntombifuthi Gumede|Tumi Jaine (2025)}} | leader_title2 = | leader_name2 = | parent_organization = | language = [[English language|English]] | num_members = [[Miss Grand International]] | budget = | website = }} {{multiple image | align = right | total_width = 270
| image1 = Lillie Chopamba.png | caption1 = {{center|Lillie Chopamba<br>Miss Grand Zimbabwe 2014}}
| image2 = Chelsea Mandizha.png | caption2 = {{center|Chelsea Mandizha<br>Miss Grand Zimbabwe 2025}} }}
'''Miss Grand Zimbabwe''' was a Zimbabwean female national [[beauty pageant]] founded in 2013 by former [[Miss Zimbabwe]] Samantha Tshuma.<ref name=chronicle/><ref name=3mob/><ref name=zimlo/> The contest's winners represent the country at the [[Miss Grand International]] pageant.<ref name=chronicle/><ref name=3mob/><ref name=zimlo/> In 2014, Tshuma relinquished her post as director for her partner, Chris Vukani Mhlanga.<ref name=sundaynews/><ref name=southerneye/> After two consecutive years of scandal, the partnership with Miss Grand International was terminated the following year<ref name=y2025director/> and the license was later purchased by Culvin Mavunga in 2016 but no representative was sent that year.<ref name=zim16/>
Zimbabwe only participated in the Miss Grand International pageant in 2013 and 2014,<ref name=res13/><ref name=res14/> and its 2013 representative, Samantha Thsuma, was named the final-20.<ref name=res13/> After that, another national pageant winner, Miss Zimbabwe Grand, was expected to participate but withdrew.<ref name=zim21>{{cite web|url=https://www.chronicle.co.zw/miss-zimbabwe-grand-2021-crowned|title=Miss Zimbabwe Grand 2021 Crowned|date=15 December 2021|accessdate=25 June 2023|publisher=[[The Chronicle (Zimbabwe)|The Chronicle]]|archivedate=25 June 2023|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20230625012913/https://www.chronicle.co.zw/miss-zimbabwe-grand-2021-crowned/}}</ref><ref name=zimgrand20>{{cite web|url=https://www.chronicle.co.zw/miss-zim-grand-queen-out-to-empower-upcoming-models/|title=Miss Zim Grand Queen out to empower upcoming models|date=24 September 2020|accessdate=25 June 2023|author=Mthabisi Tshuma|publisher=[[The Chronicle (Zimbabwe)|The Chronicle]]|archivedate=25 June 2023|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20230625015135/https://www.chronicle.co.zw/miss-zim-grand-queen-out-to-empower-upcoming-models/}}</ref> ==History== In addition to Thailand, Zimbabwe is one of the few countries that separately held its Miss Grand national contest to select the representative for Miss Grand International in 2013. This inaugural edition of Miss Grand Zimbabwe was organized at the Gardens Restaurant in the city of [[Bulawayo]] under the directorship of former [[Miss Zimbabwe|Miss Zimbabwe 2010]], Samantha Tshuma, and a 22-years-old model representing [[Bulawayo]], Fungai Mawada, was announced the winner at a contest held on July 13, outclassing 15 other finalists.<ref name=chronicle/><ref name=3mob>{{cite web|url=https://3-mob.com/entertainment/tourism-samantha-tshuma-pulls-fast/|title=Former Miss Tourism Samantha Tshuma Pulls Another Fast One|date=4 September 2013|access-date=20 January 2022|work=3-mob.com|archive-date=20 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120165712/https://3-mob.com/entertainment/tourism-samantha-tshuma-pulls-fast/}}</ref><ref name=zimlo>{{cite web|url=https://www.southerneye.co.zw/2013/07/16/mawada-crowned-miss-grand-international-zimbabwe/|title=Mawada crowned Miss Grand International Zimbabwe|date=16 July 2013|access-date=21 January 2022|work=Southerneye.co.zw|archive-date=19 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130719160317/https://www.southerneye.co.zw/2013/07/16/mawada-crowned-miss-grand-international-zimbabwe/}}</ref>
Nevertheless, Mawada was later disqualified on September 2 by the director Samantha Tshuma, who nominated herself as the country representative at such an international contest and additionally stated that all 16 participating models were not suitable for the international competition,<ref name=chronicle>{{cite web|url=https://www.chronicle.co.zw/organiser-nominates-self-for-inaugural-miss-grand-international-zim-pageant/|title=Organiser nominates self for inaugural Miss Grand International Zim Pageant|date=3 September 2013|access-date=28 December 2021|work=[[The Chronicle (Zimbabwe)|The Chronicle]]|archive-date=24 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200424112725/https://www.chronicle.co.zw/organiser-nominates-self-for-inaugural-miss-grand-international-zim-pageant/}}</ref><ref name=3mob/> causing her to receive negative opinions from several regional licensees.<ref name=chronicle/> Tshuma was placed as the Top 20 finalist in the swimsuit competition at the [[Miss Grand International 2013]] pageant, which was held in Thailand on November 19.<ref name=sundaynews>{{cite web|url=https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/miss-grand-zim-unveils-new-rep/|title=Miss Grand Zim unveils New Rep|date=10 August 2014|access-date=28 December 2021|work=[[NewsDay (Zimbabwean newspaper)|NewsDay]]|archive-date=13 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140813215636/https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/miss-grand-zim-unveils-new-rep/}}</ref>
The following year, the Miss Grand Zimbabwe organization was also embroiled in a similar scandal when the new franchise holder, ''Chris Vukani Mhlanga'', who was the partner of a former 2013 national licensee, unveiled a new country representative, ''Lillie Chopamba'', to replace ''Marble Nyathi'', one of the finalists who had been nominated from [[Bulawayo]] to represent the country at the [[Miss Grand International 2014]] in [[Bangkok]].<ref name=sundaynews/><ref name=southerneye/><ref name=newsday>{{cite web|url=https://www.newsday.co.zw/southerneye/2014/08/08/lillie-chipamba-miss-grand-international|title=Lillie Chipamba for Miss Grand International|date=8 August 2014|accessdate=25 June 2023|publisher=[[NewsDay (Zimbabwean newspaper)|NewsDay]]|archivedate=25 June 2023|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20230625015456/https://www.newsday.co.zw/southerneye/2014/08/08/lillie-chipamba-miss-grand-international}}</ref> Mhlanga claimed Nyathi's body was not good enough for the international pageant; however, Nyathi argued that she was removed because she refused Mhlanga's [[love proposal]] as well as some financial issues between her and the organizer.<ref name=sundaynews/><ref name=southerneye>{{cite web|url=https://www.southerneye.co.zw/2014/08/08/lillie-chipamba-miss-grand-international/|title=Lillie Chipamba for Miss Grand International|date=8 August 2014|access-date=28 December 2021|work=Southerneye.co.zw|archive-date=27 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211227232017/https://www.southerneye.co.zw/2014/08/08/lillie-chipamba-miss-grand-international/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/scandal-rocks-miss-grand-zimbabwe-beauty-pageant/|title=Scandal rocks Miss Grand Zimbabwe beauty pageant|date=27 July 2014|access-date=21 January 2022|work=[[NewsDay (Zimbabwean newspaper)|NewsDay]]|archive-date=10 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810084742/https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/scandal-rocks-miss-grand-zimbabwe-beauty-pageant/}}</ref><ref name=allaf>{{cite web|url=https://allafrica.com/stories/201408070349.html|url-access=subscription|title=Zimbabwe: Beauty Says Dropped From Pageant After Spurning Love Proposal|date=6 August 2014|accessdate=25 June 2023|publisher=[[AllAfrica]]|archivedate=25 June 2023|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20230625013434/https://allafrica.com/stories/201408070349.html}}</ref> Zimbabwe was then absent from the Miss Grand International from 2015 to 2024, although there was the other national pageant with a similar name, Miss Zimbabwe Grand, has been held annually since 2019 to determine the winners for several international platforms, but has no affiliation with Miss Grand International.<ref name="zimgrand">{{cite web|author=Mthabisi Tshuma|date=15 June 2021|title=Search for Miss Zimbabwe Grand 2021 begins|url=https://www.chronicle.co.zw/search-for-2021-miss-zimbabwe-grand-begins/|work=[[The Chronicle (Zimbabwe)|The Chronicle]]|archive-date=19 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210619145657/https://www.chronicle.co.zw/search-for-2021-miss-zimbabwe-grand-begins/}}</ref><ref name="indezim">{{cite web|date=30 July 2021|title=Every dream is valid: Marere|url=https://www.theindependent.co.zw/2021/07/30/every-dream-is-valid-marere/|access-date=19 October 2021|work=[[The Independent (Zimbabwe)|The Independent]]|archive-date=31 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731093457/https://www.theindependent.co.zw/2021/07/30/every-dream-is-valid-marere/}}</ref>
After a 10-year hiatus, Zimbabwe is expected to make a return in 2025 under the directorship of Ntombi Gumede and her daughter, Tumi Jiane.<ref name=y2025director>{{cite web|url=https://www.heraldonline.co.zw/mother-and-daughter-to-lead-miss-grand-zim/|title=Mother and daughter to lead Miss Grand Zim|date=22 August 2025|accessdate=23 August 2025|work=[[The Herald (Zimbabwe)|The Herald]]|archive-date=August 23, 2025|archive-url=https://archive.today/20250823000235/https://www.heraldonline.co.zw/mother-and-daughter-to-lead-miss-grand-zim/|url-status=bot: unknown}}</ref><ref name=direc25>{{cite web|url=https://gambakwe.com/2025/08/22/south-africans-take-over-miss-grand-zimbabwe/|title=South Africans Take Over Miss Grand Zimbabwe|date=22 August 2025|accessdate=23 August 2025|work=Gambakwe Media|archive-date=August 23, 2025|archive-url=https://archive.today/20250823001642/https://gambakwe.com/2025/08/22/south-africans-take-over-miss-grand-zimbabwe/|url-status=bot: unknown}}</ref>
==Editions== The Miss Grand Zimbabwe pageant was held as a stand-alone contest only once, that is, in 2013. {{table alignment}} {| class="wikitable defaultcenter col2left col3left" style="font-size: 90%"; ! rowspan=2|Edition ! rowspan=2|Date ! rowspan=2|Final venue ! rowspan=2|Entrants ! colspan=3|Result ! rowspan=2|{{tooltip|Ref.|References}} |- !Winner!!1st runner-up!!2nd runner-up |- | [[Miss Grand Zimbabwe 2013|1st]] | 13 July 2013 | Gardens Restaurant, [[Bulawayo]] | 16 | Fungai Mawada<br>([[Bulawayo]]) | Nothando Ncube<br>([[Matabeleland South]]) | Grace Ncube<br>([[Matabeleland North]]) | <ref name=zimlo/><ref name=first>{{cite web|url=https://www.chronicle.co.zw/mawanda-crowned-first-miss-grand/|title=Mawanda crowned first Miss Grand|date=17 July 2013|accessdate=25 June 2023|publisher=[[The Chronicle (Zimbabwe)|The Chronicle]]|archivedate=25 June 2023|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20230625044043/https://www.chronicle.co.zw/mawanda-crowned-first-miss-grand/}}</ref> |}
==International competition== The following is a list of Zimbabwe representatives at the [[Miss Grand International]] contest. ;Color keys {{plainlist| * {{Color box|gold|border=silver}} : Declared as the winner * {{Color box|#FFFF33|border=silver}} : Ended as a runner-up (Top 5) * {{Color box|#FFFF99|border=silver}} : Ended as a finalist (Top 10) * {{Color box|#FFFACD|border=silver}} : Ended as a semifinalist (Top 20/21) * {{Color box|#FADADD|border=silver}} : Ended as special awards winner }} <div style="white-space:nowrap"> {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%; text-align:center; width:100%" !style="background-color:#787878;color:#FFFFFF;"|Year !style="background-color:#787878;color:#FFFFFF;"|Miss Grand Zimbabwe !style="background-color:#787878;color:#FFFFFF;"|Original Title{{efn-lr|Title obtained from national contest, not by appointment|name=title}} !style="background-color:#787878;color:#FFFFFF;"|Placement !style="background-color:#787878;color:#FFFFFF;"|Special Awards !style="background-color:#787878;color:#FFFFFF;"|National Director |- |[[Miss Grand International 2025|2025]] | Chelsea Rose Mandizha<ref name=zim25>{{cite web|url=https://fashionbrunet.com/read/?title=CHELSEA%20ROSE%20MANDIZHA%20CROWNED%20AS%20MISS%20GRAND%20ZIMBABWE%202025&title_id=427&category=World%20Fashion|title=Chelsea Rose Mandizha Crowned As Miss Grand Zimbabwe 2025|date=25 August 2025|accessdate=25 August 2025|work=Fashion Brunet|archive-date=August 25, 2025|archive-url=https://archive.today/20250825122721/https://fashionbrunet.com/read/?title=CHELSEA%20ROSE%20MANDIZHA%20CROWNED%20AS%20MISS%20GRAND%20ZIMBABWE%202025&title_id=427&category=World%20Fashion|url-status=bot: unknown}}</ref> | {{n/a|Appointed}} | Unplaced<ref name="mgi25result">{{cite web |author=Agpalo |first=Jaja |date=18 October 2025 |title=Emma Tiglao of the Philippines Is Miss Grand International 2025 |url=https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/emma-tiglao-philippines-miss-grand-international-2025-1748654 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20251018145549/https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/emma-tiglao-philippines-miss-grand-international-2025-1748654 |archive-date=18 October 2025 |accessdate=18 October 2025 |work=[[International Business Times]]}}</ref> | | Ntombifuthi Gumede<ref name=y2025director/><ref name=direc25/> |- | colspan=6 {{n/a|Did not compete between 2022-2024}} |- |[[Miss Grand International 2021|2021]] | Scholastica Makoni<ref name=zim21/> | Miss Zimbabwe Grand 2021 | colspan=2 rowspan=2 {{n/a|The organizer did not hold the license of<br>[[Miss Grand International]] for [[Zimbabwe]].}} | rowspan=2|Farai Zembeni |- |[[Miss Grand International 2020|2020]] | Kimberly Mayoyo<ref name=zimgrand20/> | Miss Zimbabwe Grand 2020 |- | colspan=6 {{n/a|Did not compete between 2017-2019}} |- |[[Miss Grand International 2016|2016]] | Dion Cooper<ref name=zim16>{{cite web|url=https://www.newsday.co.zw/2016/03/09/model-opts-international-pageant|title=Model opts out of international pageant|date=9 March 2016|accessdate=25 June 2023|publisher=[[NewsDay (Zimbabwean newspaper)|NewsDay]]|archivedate=25 June 2023|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20230625042020/https://www.newsday.co.zw/2016/03/09/model-opts-international-pageant|author=Winstone Antonio}}</ref> | Miss Grand Zimbabwe 2016{{efn-lr| Supplement title at the Miss United Continent Zimbabwe 2016 pageant.}} | colspan=2 {{n/a|Did not compete}} | Culvin Mavunga |- | colspan="6" {{n/a|Did not compete in 2015}} |- |rowspan="2"|[[Miss Grand International 2014|2014]] | Marble Nyathi<ref name=sundaynews/> | {{n/a|Appointed}} | colspan=2 {{n/a|Did not compete}} | rowspan=2|Chris Vukani Mhlanga |- | Lillie Chopamba<ref name=southerneye/> | {{n/a|Appointed}} | Unplaced<ref name=res14>{{cite web|url=https://www.vintersections.com/2014/10/miss-grand-international-2014-winners.html|title=Miss Cuba is Miss Grand International 2014|date=6 October 2014|accessdate=9 February 2023|author=Arvin Ello|website=www.vintersections.com|archivedate=31 July 2015|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20150731082658/http://www.vintersections.com/2014/10/miss-grand-international-2014-winners.html}}</ref> | |- |bgcolor=#FFFACD rowspan="2"|[[Miss Grand International 2013|2013]] | Fungai Mawada<ref name=zimlo/> | [[Miss Grand Zimbabwe 2013]] | colspan=2 {{n/a|Did not compete}} | rowspan=2|Samantha Thsuma<ref name=chronicle/> |-bgcolor=#FFFACD | Samantha Thsuma<ref name=3mob/> | [[Miss Zimbabwe|Miss Zimbabwe 2010]] | Top 20<ref name=res13>{{cite web|url=https://www.metro.pr/pr/entretener/2013/11/19/janelee-chaparro-se-corona-miss-grand-international-2013.html|title=Janelee Chaparro se corona Miss Grand International 2013|author=Harry Rodríguez|date=18 November 2013|accessdate=8 February 2023|language=es|website=www.metro.pr|archivedate=8 May 2019|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20190508072838/https://www.metro.pr/pr/entretener/2013/11/19/janelee-chaparro-se-corona-miss-grand-international-2013.html}}</ref> | |} </div> ;Note {{notelist-lr}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{commons category-inline|Miss Grand Zimbabwe}}
{{Miss Grand International titleholders}} {{Navboxes| | title = [[Miss Grand International]] participating countries and territories | list = {{Miss Grand national pageants in Africa}} {{Miss Grand national pageants in Asia and Oceania}} {{Miss Grand national pageants in Europe}} {{Miss Grand national pageants in North America}} {{Miss Grand national pageants in South America}} }} [[Category:Miss Grand Zimbabwe|*]] [[Category:Zimbabwean awards]] [[Category:Beauty pageants in Zimbabwe|Grand Zimbabwe]] [[Category:Miss Grand International by country|Zimbabwe]] [[Category:Recurring events established in 2013]]